Main » Security forces will be vigilant during election after Paris shooting - French president

Security forces will be vigilant during election after Paris shooting - French president

22 April 2017

Police have not publicly named the attacker, but ISIS said in a statement that his name is Abu Yousef Al-Baljiki, "The Belgian", and called him "one of the Islamic State fighters".

Spokesperson of the French interior ministry Pierre-Henry Brandet told local broadcaster BFMTV that the police officers were "deliberately targeted".

French authorities had not identify the gunman, but President Francois Hollande said there was "no doubt" the attack was terrorism.

So close to the presidential election, "the country's on edge", Eleanor says, adding that thousands of police officers are on the streets.

"The investigation has been entrusted to the Anti-Terrorist Section (SAT) of the Criminal Brigade and the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI)", Paris chief prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Concerns over security have been raised since Tuesday when two men were arrested for plotting an attack before the French presidential election, which is set to begin on Sunday.

Marine Le Pen of the far-right Front National, Francois Fillon of the centre-right Republicains and centrist Emmanuel Macron have cancelled events scheduled for today, the last day of the campaign. I heard six shots, I was afraid.

He fled on foot before the driver of the other auto and the passenger - a trainee police officer - caught up with him.

One police officer and an attacker have been killed in a shooting in Paris on Thursday, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV and the French Interior Ministry. "We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant, and I have been saying it for a long time".